-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf came to power in a bloodless military coup in 1999 when he was chief of Pakistan 's army . He held power until the 2008 elections after which he resigned . Since then he has lived in self-imposed exile in London . In late 2010 he launched the All Pakistan Muslim League party with a view to running for office in 2013 . Musharraf now says he plans to return to his home country sometime at the end of January .

How did Musharraf establish himself as a player in Pakistani politics ?

Like most Muslims , Musharraf 's family moved to Pakistan when British India was divided into India and Pakistan , and settled in Karachi . Musharraf 's father was a career diplomat , which saw him spend his early childhood in Turkey due to his father 's assignment in Ankara . But despite early family life in civil service , Musharraf decided on a different career path -- in 1964 he was commissioned second lieutenant in an artillery regiment in the Pakistani Army .

His rise through the military would help cement his political power in Pakistan by gaining the backing of the country 's armed forces . He was promoted to major general in 1991 , appointed chief of army staff with rank of general in 1998 , and then made chairman of the joint chiefs of staff the following year .

How did Musharraf gain power in Pakistan ?

It was during his stint as the country 's military chief that there was an opening for Musharraf 's political ascendancy , when in 1999 the then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif dismissed him after the army 's failed invasion in Kargil , in Indian-administered Kashmir . As Musharraf was returning from an overseas visit in October 1999 , Sharif refused to allow the commercial airliner with 200 passengers on board to land . Within hours the army had deposed Sharif in a bloodless coup , and the plane was allowed to touch down with only 10 minutes of fuel left . In 2001 Musharraf appointed himself president of Pakistan while remaining the head of the army .

Musharraf 's rule : Strengthening his grip on power

In April 2002 a referendum allowed Musharraf to hold office for a further five years . Four months later , Musharraf implemented 29 amendments to the constitution , granting himself the power to dissolve parliament and remove the prime minister . In a televised address in December 2004 , Musharraf announced that he would not step down as top military leader , even though he had previously agreed to give up the position of the head of the army at the end of 2004 . He said that he needed to maintain his position in order to watch over anti-terrorist operations .

During his rule , Pakistan attained respectable growth rates and established a generally favorable investment climate . Along with that came a growing middle class , a more aggressive media , and a more assertive judiciary .

`` He brought parliamentary reforms . He brought women into the parliament , '' said Ahmed Bilal Mehboob , director of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency .

But , analysts say , Musharraf never lost his military mindset . `` He in a way , always believed in a unity of command , a very centralized command , which means his command , in fact , '' said Lt. Gen. Talat Masood , a political analyst .

Why did things turn sour for Musharraf ?

Musharraf 's popularity began plummeting in 2007 after he suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry for `` misuse of authority . '' The move triggered protests and accusations that he was trying to influence the court 's ruling on whether he could run for another five-year term . Chaudhry was reinstated but the damage was done .

In October of that year , Musharraf was re-elected president by a parliament critics said was stacked with his supporters . Opposition parties filed a challenge . The next month , he declared a state of emergency , suspended Pakistan 's constitution , replaced the chief judge again and blacked out independent TV outlets .

Under pressure from the West , Musharraf later lifted the emergency and promised elections in January 2008 . He allowed Sharif , the prime minister he deposed , to return from exile . He also let in another political foe , former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who led the Pakistan People 's Party .

However , in December 2007 , the country was plunged into further turmoil when Bhutto was assassinated . Bhutto had returned from a self-imposed , eight-year exile to run in the country 's general elections two months before her assassination and already had escaped one attempt on her life . She was killed by a 15-year-old suicide bomber while campaigning in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi , the seat of the country 's military .

Musharraf 's government and the CIA contend the killing was orchestrated by a group with ties to al Qaeda , but polls found that a majority of Pakistanis believe Musharraf 's government was complicit .

In 2010 , further criticism of Musharraf emerged after the United Nations ruled that Bhutto 's death could have been prevented had Musharraf 's government taken adequate measures to protect her . Musharraf rejected the findings , saying that Bhutto had police protection and took unnecessary risks .

Meanwhile , several other factors compounded Musharraf 's declining popularity : a shortage of essential food items , power cuts , and skyrocketing inflation .

In February 2008 Musharraf 's party admitted defeat in parliamentary elections and he was succeeded by Asif Zardari , Bhutto 's widower . The leaders of Pakistan 's two main opposition parties formed a coalition and vowed to restore deposed judges . Six months later , the coalition moved to impeach Musharraf , who then resigned as president , though he said the allegations of misconduct were false . He went into self-imposed exile in London . In August 2009 , Pakistan 's supreme court found that Musharraf had violated the constitution in 2007 when he imposed a national state of emergency . Government officials said that if he returned , he 'd be arrested .

What now for Pakistan 's former president ?

In May 2010 Musharraf announced on CNN that he planned to re-enter Pakistan politics and launched a new political party in October of that year . But a Pakistani court later issued an arrest warrant for him in connection to the assassination of Bhutto . Musharraf 's legal adviser told CNN that the accusations were baseless .

Musharraf now says he 'll return to his country between January 27 and 30 , despite word from authorities that he will be arrested when he does so . Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali , a special public prosecutor in the assassination case , said a Rawalpindi court has already issued an arrest warrant for Musharraf .

`` They are bound to execute the order unless a higher court sets aside the orders , '' Ali said , adding that Musharraf is accused of conspiring in the assassination .

Musharraf announces he will return to Pakistan late this month

Musharraf 's attorney , Chaudry Faisal , said the threat of arrest is politically motivated and has no legal bearing . The warrant is being challenged in court , the attorney said . He described the claim that Musharraf could be arrested at any time upon return as `` absurd . ''

Musharraf said that he will return even at the risk of his life . Speaking to CNN , the former president said he had declined to provide a specific date because of security concerns . He spoke about the possibility of arrest , but said he expects he will be fine , so long as `` the judiciary plays its just role , and there are no interruptions . ''

He described his support as scattered , and said he needs to build it again from the ground up . `` This is a do-or-die moment for me and my party . I need to muster all the support I can , '' he said .

Musharraf pens exclusive op-ed for CNN.com

CNN 's Reza Sayah and Saeed Ahmed contributed to this story .

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Musharraf 's rise through the military helped him cement his political power in Pakistan

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He deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999

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Musharraf 's popularity plummeted in 2007 after he suspended a senior judge

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He now says he 'll return to his country between January 27 and 30 , 2012